Two area fire departments have formalized a new automatic aid agreement in hopes of enhancing service to motor vehicle collisions in the eastern part of Highway MM around the Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge.

Two area fire departments have formalized a new automatic aid agreement in hopes of enhancing service to motor vehicle collisions in the eastern part of Highway MM around the Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge.

Effective immediately, the automatic response will mean that the Sunrise Beach firefighters will no longer have to make a formal request for Lake Ozark personnel to respond, according to a press release from the SBFPD.

Sunrise Beach Fire officials sought the automatic aid agreement due to the full time staffing of Lake Ozark units just across the bridge. Because of the LOFPD staffing nearby, Sunrise Beach Fire officials believe the other department can place units at the scene of an incident several minutes sooner than without the automatic response.

"I believe that if you are injured in an accident or if your car is on fire you really don't care what the name is on the side of the fire truck that can get to you the quickest and solve your problems," Sunrise Beach Fire Chief Dennis Reilly commented. "Both Chief [Mark] Amsinger and I believe very strongly that we have a moral obligation to our communities to provide the best possible service. If this means entering into these types of agreements then we are prepared to set District boundaries aside and focus on what is in the best interest of the community."

The SBFPD is also exploring similar agreements with other agencies to expand this program to include additional high traffic roadways, according to the press release.

"We have had a rash of serious roadway incidents this year and our District believes that we need to evaluate these incidents and be willing to make changes that will enhance the service we provide. We are very optimistic about the possibilities," Reilly said.